‘Pure political pork’: government ends energy bill rebate as treasurer flags ‘difficult’ budget decisions

Chalmers flags pressure on national finances as Reserve Bank contemplates possibility of interest rate rises next year

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Jim Chalmers has foreshadowed more difficult decisions" in next week's mid-year budget update after cabinet decided not to extend billions of dollars in energy bill rebates into the new year.

The withdrawal of the power bill subsidies comes as the Reserve Bank's monetary policy board mulls a recent rebound in inflation that could force the central bank to hike interest rates next year.